The hidden key to the God-scenario

Second choice apologetics?

THE HIDDEN KEY TO THE GOD-SCENARIO
By H.H. Osborn
Apologia. 288 pages. £7.95
ISBN 978-1-901566-08-0

The question which motivated the author to write this book was: ‘If what I believed the Bible said about me was true, why was that information not presented to me in such a way that I would have no doubts about it at all?’ (p.6). He came to the conclusion that there is a key to understanding the Bible but ‘it is a hidden key’.

He believes that the answers to the big questions people are asking are found in the Bible. These answers are revealed by God, not worked out by human intelligence and ‘hidden’ in the sense that they are not immediately obvious to readers of the Bible. However, ‘the hidden key’ is based on ‘objective reasoning not mystical or intuitive thinking’. The information it provides ‘is consistent with itself’ and ‘is simple to understand and all it unlocks is not difficult to grasp’ (p.12).

The various chapters of the book cover a variety of topics including: God’s masterplan; man — male and female; God: the Three who are One; the cross of Jesus Christ; evil, pain and suffering; miracles and revivals; history and prophecy. It is evident that a lot of work has gone into this book but this reviewer was not sure who the book was written for. The title and cover of the work suggest an appeal to the people who buy books on spirituality from major book stores; but the sheer quantity of detailed material in the book on biblical subjects make it probable that Christians who are already serious readers are the likely purchasers. Although very reasonably priced and containing some good material, it is not likely to be a first choice apologetics book for many readers.

Brian Talbot,
minister of Broughty Ferry Baptist Church, Dundee

© Evangelicals Now - March 2009
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